Mumbai grenade reports anger China

December 13, 2008

The Times of India

12 Dec 2008

KATHMANDU: Stung by reports in a section of the media that the terrorists involved in the Mumbai attacks had used Chinese-made hand grenades, China's ambassador to Nepal Qiu Guohong on Friday said that the provenance of all weapons used in the carnage should be investigated.

"China is a responsible country and we have adhered to the UN (guidelines for manufacturing arms and explosives)," the envoy said in his maiden media interaction in Kathmandu Friday. "However, no country can give cent percent guarantee that the weapons made by it will not be used by others... Most weapons used by terrorists are not made in China... China will never provide offensive weapons to any country."

The former deputy director-general at the Asia department of Beijing's foreign affairs ministry also denied that China was playing the India card to boost its ties with Nepal.

Replying to the speculation that Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi's visit to Nepal close on the heels of Indian external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee indicated an Indo-China tug-of-war over Nepal, he said that the developing Sino-Nepal ties were based on the "very friendly relationship" between the people of the two countries as well as the desire by both desire for peace and stability in South Asia.

"China-Nepal and Nepal-India relations should go on in a parallel manner and not influence each other," he said. "China and India's relations have developed very fast in recent years. We are holding a joint military exercise (in Karnataka) to counter terrorism. There is no conflict between the two countries in South Asia."

Qiu said that if Nepal asked for help to resolve its border dispute with India over Kalapani, the 75km stretch in farwestern Nepal's Darchula district, China was ready to support the "efforts of Nepal to safeguard its territorial integrity and sovereignty."

However, he added that Nepal was presumably looking for political support and China would extend that on the principle of non-interference.

But China has refused to relax its vise-like grip on Tibetans in Nepal. Beijing will still not agree to allow the US government to resettle 5000 "vulnerable" Tibetan refugees on American soil.

"The Chinese government's policy on Tibet remains consistent," Qiu said. "We are firmly opposed to any country or forces seeking to be involved or intervene in Tibet issues."